IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

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IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM 6.1 INTRODUCTION

The Implementation Program of the Comprehensive Plan is designed to provide specific guidance to decision makers on implementation of the Plan's major policies for action. For key plan recommendations, those agencies of the town who will be responsible for action are designated. At the end of this section is a Work Program for the next 18 months itemizing for each Town agency primary tasks to accomplish.

Each Plan Element should be reviewed in detail for additional policies for action and implementation to support and give direction to those listed below.

6.2 IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM - NEAR TERM - 18 months to 5 years 6.2.1 Growth Management

• Implement a growth management program based on the growth management study recommendations.

Responsible: Planning Department

Planning Board

Town Council

• Adopt ordinance to enforce growth management program. Responsible: Planning Department

Planning Board Town Council

• Maintain statistical data annually on growth using housing starts and review of tax revenue based on available records.

Responsible: Planning Board

Tax Assessor

Planning Department

• Develop Capital Plan that reflects forecasted growth. Responsible: Planning Department

Planning Board

6.2.2 Economic Development

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Responsible: Town Council

Planning Board

6.2.3 Land Use

• Adopt flexible zoning provisions and the Farmland – Rural Conservation Overlay Zoning District.

Responsible: Planning Board Town Council

• Adopt amendments to Route 6 Highway Commercial Zoning to encourage mixed use, nodes of development, protective setbacks and

neighborhood scale. These changes are specified in the Land Use Element of this Plan.

Economic Development Commission

• Provide Creative Land Development (CLD) zoning and flexible zoning alternatives for all Agricultural - Residential (AR) District areas not within Farmland - Rural Conservation Overlay zoning District.

• Initiate Special Area Management (SAM) planning for individual villages with advisory committees composed, of village residents.

Responsible: Planning Board Town Council

• Adopt methodology for notice of lot merger. Responsible: Planning Board

Town Council

• Implement policy of tax incentives designed to keep farmland. Responsible: Tax Collector

Tax Assessor

• Utilize Town property and Land Trust property for cellular tower sites where applicable.

Zoning Board

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6.2.4 Housing

• Establish percentage goal of long-term affordability for 20% of Foster's Housing units.

• Initiate Plan to improve and expand accommodations for elderly housing services. Interview elderly residents for input on plan.

Town Council

Human Resources

Tax Collector

Tax Assessor

• Move neighborhood Commercial from Cucumber Hill to location of former Moosup Valley Store

Town Council

• Utilize Land Trust to provide land for Low/Moderate income and elderly housing sites.

Responsible: Land Trust

Planning Board

Town Council

• Establish a plan to fairly compensate the Town for the cost of the State’s Public Water Supply.

Responsible: Tax Collector

Tax Assessor

• Support the Western Rhode Island Home Repair Program to ensure future program efforts.

6.2.5 Community Facilities

• Continue to use a 5-year Capital Improvement Budgeting Program. Responsible: Planning Board

Planning Department Town Council

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• Develop and Maintain a Five Year Capital Improvement Program for maintenance of Town Bridges.

Department of Public Works • Consider establishing a Finance Committee.

• Monitor student population and growth. Responsible: Planning Board

Planning Department School Committee

• Continue the school facility master planning process. Responsible: Planning Board

Planning Department School Committee

• Re-establish the 5-year Road Improvement Plan - with modifications to comply with standards as they are particularly as they pertain to maintaining and enhancing scenic roads.

Responsible: Planning Board

Public Works Department Town Council

Conservation Commission Police Department

• Maintain compliance for handicap accessible meeting areas. Responsible: Town Council

• Designate or acquire a Town-owned emergency wellhead. Responsible: Town Council

6.2.6 Natural Resources

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standards for environmental protection. Responsible: Planning Board

Town Council

• Determine key areas of conservation concern for protective measures and establish mechanisms to preserve these areas of concern.

Responsible: Conservation Commission Land Trust

Planning Board Town Council

• Continue to monitor the use restrictions and development standards specified for the Scituate Reservoir Watershed Management Plan and assure that the Town maintains the ability to implement such

standards.

Responsible: Conservation Commission Planning Board

Town Council

• Require ISDSs that include maintenance inspections. Responsible: Conservation Commission

Planning Board

Town Council

• Promote planned Greenways to connect with Greenways in adjacent communities.

Responsible: Conservation Commission

Planning Board

Town Council

6.2.7 Historic and Scenic Resources

• Adopt Farmland - Rural Conservation Overlay zoning District with protection standards for historic and scenic resources.

Responsible: Town Council Planning Board

• Continue to work with the State and National Register of Historic Places and ongoing nomination programs in the nomination and listing of historic sites.

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• Begin discussion with property owners residing in Foster Historic Districts to evaluate the benefits of implementing Historic District Zoning in their respective Districts.

Responsible: Planning Department Foster Preservation Society

Town Council

• Continue preservation/maintenance program for town-owned historic buildings.

Responsible: Town Council

Public Works Department

• Explore opportunities for economic development capitalizing on Foster's scenic resources, including but not limited to tourism and commercial recreation, and if warranted, develop tourism management plan consistent with goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. Responsible: Town Council

• Encourage celebrations such as Foster Old Home Days and Farm and Forest Coalition's Harvest Festival.

Responsible: Town Council

• Continue to place a high priority on the contribution of historic resources to landscape and character of the town in evaluating plans for new subdivision development.

Town Council

• Continue to map archeological sites, and record information on historic resources, farms mill and cemeteries.

Responsible: Conservation Commission

Preservation Society

• Maintain and update collection of historical and restoration reference materials at town libraries and planning office.

Conservation Commission

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Conservation Commission Public Works Department

• Rezone sections of the Route 6 commercial zone for nodal development.

Town Council

• Develop Special Area Management Plans for the Historic Villages. Responsible: Planning Board

Town Council

• Review and update Town's sign ordinance to include standards for home-based business signs, commercial and industrial signs and signs within historic districts.

Town Council

• Design and distribute interpretive brochures of Foster's cultural landscape. Develop educational programs for real estate salespeople to educate them on Foster's heritage, development goals and policies regarding preservation and conservation.

Responsible: Planning Department Preservation Society

• Work with Land Trust on acquisition of historic and scenic easements to preserve resources.

Responsible: Lands Trust

Planning Board

6.2.8 Circulation

• Re-establish, implement and fund 5-year Road Improvement Program. Responsible: Public Works Department

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• Designate and nominate scenic roads for State scenic road designation.

Conservation Commission Preservation Society Police Department

• Maintain design standards for maintenance and improvement of scenic roads. Publish Scenic Roads directory and submit directory to the State representatives for associated funding.

Responsible: Planning Department Public Works Department Planning Board

• Coordinate review of state road and bridge projects with the State Department of Transportation design staff and Foster residents to insure that these projects are compatible with the goals of the comprehensive plan and incorporate appropriate signage and safety features.

Responsible: Planning Department Public Works Department Planning Board

Conservation Commission Town Council

Police Department

• Develop design standards for upgrades and new development roads that preserve rural character while providing for safe travel.

Responsible: Planning Department Public Works Department

• Establish and promote a privately and publicly developed trail system (walking, biking, horseback riding).

Responsible: Lands Trust

Planning Board

• Manage Route 6 and other planned commercial development for safe circulation including new zoning for nodal development along the Route 6 corridor.

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Town Council • Increase traffic enforcement on major through highways. Responsible: Police Department

• Establish a location for a Medivac site in the town. Responsible: Planning Department

Emergency Services

Public Works Department

Town Council

• Establish a plan guiding property acquisition for Open Space and Recreation purposes.

Town Council

Land Trust

Conservation Commission 6.2.9 Open Space and Recreation

• Adopt Farmland - Rural Conservation Overlay zoning District with protection for unique areas of conservation concern - unique habitats - scenic areas.

Town Council

• Maintain list of priority areas based upon plan for protection through land development regulation and management, less than fee simple acquisition, or as a last resort outright purchase. Particularly priority for East/West Greenways and North/South Corridors.

Responsible: Conservation Commission Land Trust

• Assist Economic Development Commission in making use of open space conservation as a marketing tool.

Responsible: Planning Department Conservation Commission

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Responsible: Recreation Commission Planning Board

Town Council

• Coordinate with schools to maintain and develop centrally located recreational facilities.

Responsible: Recreation Commission School Committee

Town Council Planning Board

• Maintain and update a Recreation, Conservation and Open Space Plan to capture Federal and State funding for facility improvement.

Responsible: Recreation Department Conservation Commission Planning Department Planning Board Town Council

• Target major playfield development near Foster Center for further investigation and funding.

Responsible: Recreation Commission Town Council

Planning Board

6.3 IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM - LONG TERM - 6 years to 10 years 6.3.1 Economic Development

• Maintain and enhance zoning and other incentives for a diversity of small scale industry, office, agriculture, and cottage-craft economic development activities.

Responsible: Economic Development Commission Planning Board

Town Council 6.3.4 Housing

• Explore creation of community land trust for use as a housing land bank. Coordinate with municipal Land Trust already in existence.

Responsible: Planning Department Planning Board

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• Maintain the a Town-owned emergency wellhead. Responsible: Planning Department

Public Works Department Town Council

• Facilitate the collaboration of communities within region on purchasing bulk supplies and other cost sharing.

Responsible: Public Works Department School Superintendent Town Council

School Committee 6.3.6 Natural Resources

• Promote North - South Hiking and Recreational Trail. Responsible: Recreation Commission

Economic Development Commission Planning Board

• Promote the educational program for wastewater management. Responsible: Planning Department

Conservation Commission 6.3.7 Historic and Scenic Resources

• Evaluate the benefits of implementing Historic District Zoning. Responsible: Planning Department

Historic District Zoning Study Commission Town Council

• Publish design standards for scenic areas. Responsible: Planning Department

Conservation Commission Planning Board

Town Council 6.3.8 Circulation

• Promote North - South Hiking and Recreational Trail. Responsible: Public Works Department

Economic Development Commission Recreation Commission

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Planning Board Land Trust

• Establish and promote trail system on public roads R-O-Ws connecting North - South Hiking and Recreational Trail.

Responsible: Public Works Department

Economic Development Commission Recreation Commission

Conservation Commission Planning Board

6.3.9 Open Space and Recreation

• Protect areas of conservation concern listed as priorities through land development regulation, management, less than fee simple acquisition, or as a last resort, outright purchase.

Land Trust Town Council

• Cooperate with neighboring towns in Connecticut for identification of open space preservation strategies for regional protection strategies, and for regional recreational facility development.

Responsible: Planning Department Recreation Department

• Utilize recreational clubs (current and future) and other organized users to pay for, in part, through user fees or by donation, the development of new specialized recreational facilities which they advocate.

Responsible: Recreation Department Recreation Commission Town Council

6.4 WORK PROGRAM - Next 18 months – REMAINDER TO BE UPDATED

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TOWN COUNCIL Growth Management:

• Implement a growth rate management strategy. Economic Development:

• Continue to support the Economic Development Advisory Commission. Land Use:

• Adopt flexible zoning and the Farmland - Rural Conservation Overlay Zoning District.

• Rezone the Route 6 Highway Commercial District to planned commercial nodes.

• Provide Creative Land Development zoning alternatives for all AR districts not within Farmland – Rural Conservation districts.

• Initiate Special Area Management planning. Housing:

• Adopt affordable housing incentives to meet 20% goal. • Support Western Rhode Island Home repair program. Community Facilities:

• Adopt an effective Animal Control Program.

• Continue to utilize a five-year Capital Improvement Budget which addresses appropriate near term implementation items.

• Re-establish the five-year Road Improvement Plan. • Maintain compliance for handicapped accessibility. • Consider establishing a Finance Committee.

Natural Resources:

• Adopt Farmland – Rural Conservation Overlay zoning.

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• Continue to monitor Scituate Reservoir Watershed Management Plan recommendations.

Historic and Scenic Resources:

• Continue to work with the State and National Register of Historic Places.

• Continue to evaluate Historic District Zoning. Circulation:

• Re-establish, implement and fund near term components of the 5-year Road Improvement Program.

• Designate Scenic Roads and nominate for State Scenic Road listing. • Maintain design standards for maintenance and improvement of scenic

roads.

• Work with State DOT officials for the Routes 6 and 101 upgrade projects.

Open Space and Recreation:

• Adopt Farmland – Rural Conservation Overlay zoning District. • Maintain list of priority areas for protection.

• Include in the Capital Improvement Budget funds for appropriate recreational facility development and open space acquisition. Incorporate use of Fee-in-lieu of Land.

• Coordinate school facility and other related planning efforts with the School Committee.

• Develop Plan to guide land acquisition for Recreation, Conservation and Open Space.

• Target major playfield development near Foster Center for funding. • Revise Zoning Ordinance to comply with Zoning Enabling Act Amendments. • Revise and update the Zoning Ordinance to conform with the

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PLANNING BOARD Growth Management:

• Implement a growth rate management strategy. Land Use:

• Adopt flexible zoning and the Farmland – Rural Conservation Overlay Zoning District.

• Rezone the Route 6 Highway Commercial District to planned commercial nodes.

• Provide Creative Land Development zoning alternatives for all AR districts not within Farmland – Rural Conservation districts.

• Inititate Special Area Management planning. • Implement lot merger procedure.

Housing:

• Adopt affordable housing incentives to meet 20% goal. Community Facilities:

• Re-establish the five-year Road Improvement Plan. • Maintain compliance for handicapped accessibility. Natural Resources:

• Determine and preserve key areas of conservation concern.

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• Continue to evaluate Historic District Zoning. Circulation:

• Re-establish, implement and fund near term components of the five-year Road Improvement Program.

roads.

• Adopt Farmland – Rural Conservation Overlay zoning District. • Maintain list of priority areas for protection.

• Assist Economic Development Commission in open space related marketing.

• Include in the Capital Improvement Budget funds for appropriate recreational facility development and open space acquisition. Incorporate use of Fee-in-Lieu of Land.

• Adopt an updated Recreation, Conservation and Open Space Plan. • Target major playfield development near Foster Center for funding. • Revise Zoning Ordinance to comply with Zoning Enabling Act Amendments. • Revise and update the Zoning Ordinance to conform with the

Comprehensive Plan within 18 months of final adoption. CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Community Facilities:

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• Determine and preserve key areas of conservation concern.

Circulation:

roads.

• Work with State DOT officials for the Routes 6 and 101 upgrades projects.

• Adopt Farmland - Rural Conservation Overlay zoning District. • Maintain list of priority areas of protection.

LAND TRUST

• Determine and preserve key areas of conservation concern. • Maintain list of priority areas for protection.

RECREATION COMMITTEE

• Include in the Capital Improvement Budget funds for appropriate recreational facility development and open space acquisition. Incorporate use of Fee-In-Lieu of Land.

• Adopt an updated Recreation, Conservation and Open Space Plan. • Target major playfield development near Foster Center for funding. PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Growth Management:

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Community Facilities:

• Re-establish the five-year Road Improvement Plan. • Maintain compliance for handicapped accessibility. • Monitor student population growth.

Circulation:

• Maintain design standards for maintenance and improvement of scenic roads.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Community Facilities:

• Re-establish the five-year Road Improvement Plan. • Maintain compliance for handicapped accessibility. Historic and Scenic Resources:

• Continue to work with the State and National Register of Historic Places with the nomination of Historic Sites.

• Evaluate the benefits of implementing Historic District Zoning. Circulation:

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Road Improvement Program.

roads.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

• Provide Animal Control.

• Re-establish the 5-year Road Improvement Plan. • Designate and nominate scenic roads.